Knitting-machine



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

e. A. OLSON. KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 330,728. Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

New Rm W was, 6, W '@%W m N. PETERS. Pholo-Lilhagnpllur. Washington. D.c

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. A. OLSON.

KNITTING MAGHINE.

No. 330,728. Patented Nov. 17, 1885.

gmwasxs 0am (QM ab m mxm N. PETERS. Fhoxwmhc n har. Wnhin mn.

Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV ADOLPH OLSON, OF ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA.

KNITTING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.330,'728, dated November17, 1885.

Application filed June 5,1885. Serial No. 167,710. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAV ADOLPH OLsoN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Albert Lea, in the county of Freeborn, in the State ofMinnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting:

Machines, of which the following specification tached to theknitting-machine known as the Twombly machinesuch as shown and describedin Letters Patent No. 229,288, to Orison Twombly, June 29, 1880to whichit is peculiarly applicable.

Figure 1 represents a plan view, partly in section, and Fig. 2represents a rear view, of one of the above-mentioned machines with myimprovement attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view ofthe pin-raising mechanism and one ofthetrip-p1ates. Fig. 4 is a detachedperspective view of the pin-elevating cam-levers. Fig. 5 is a view ofaportion of the under side of one of the guide-plates and of thesegmental plate, showing the construction and arrangement of thefriction-spring which clasps one plate to the other.

In this machine, A represents the central shaft, rigidly attached to astandard adapted to be secured to a table, bench, or in any otherstationary position, and having rigidly fixed to its lower end theneedleplate B in which the needles; are arranged. The needles are notshown in the drawings, as they form no part of theinvention; but I havesimply shown the needle-plate provided with its recesses a for thereception of the needles. Above this needle-plate B is the cam-plate Bwhich is adapted to be revolved about the central shaft, A, by twobeveled pinions, and having an upright fixed pin,D". Only one of thesebevelpinions,B ,is shown in the drawings, the other being attached tothe standard, which is not shown.

Upon the under side of the cam plate 13 is arranged the cam 13*, (shownonly in Fig. 2,) for operating the needles, and upon the upper part ofthe plate is shown the different adjusting-levers, tension-bars, 8210.,connected with the knitting mechanism of the machine; but as these formno part of the present invention they need no further description.

Attached rigidly to the central shaft, A, above the cam-plate B and itspinion B is a segmental plate, 0, provided with two rows ofperforations, b b near its outer edge, and a V-shaped groove, d,concentric with its edge and between the perforations b b and thecentral shaft.

D D are two small trip-plates encompassing the outer edge of thesegmental plate by being forked, as shown in Fig. 3, and having theforked parts embrace the segmental plate from the outer edge thereof,the upper fork of each trip-plate having its bearing-surface at or nearthe outer and inner ends, as shown in the same figure, and running backa short distance across its top, and until they project over theV-shaped groove (1, and having pins h h passing down through them intothe perforations b or b These trip -plates have grooves c in their lowersides, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) the respective sides of which grooves serveto strike and trip a small lever, g, as they are moved around the edgeof the segmental plate 0. Down through the rear ends of the tripplatesset-screws 2" i are adapted to be inserted,with their points fittinginto the U-shaped groove d, to serve as guides to the trip-plates andcause them to travel around the outer edge of the segmental plateconcentric there with.

The ordinary manner of operating the pins h h in this machine is byremoving and inserting them by hand, the two trip-plates D D being movedtoward each other the distance of one of the perforations b b at eachthrow of the cam-plate B In knitting the straight portions of thestocking the trip-plates D D are not used, but are left off from themachine entirely, and

the cam-plate B is revolved continuously in the extreme outerperforations, 1) b and then after each movement or throw of the camplateB the pins are removed and the tripplates moved forward the distance ofone perforation, and the pins 'h h inserted into the next perforationnearer the center of the rows of perforations, and so on, alternately,until the two trip-plates D D come together at the center, thusgradually forming a narrow, regularly-decreasing web of the knittedfabric,

which will afterward form a portion of the heel-section of the stocking.The motion is then reversed, the pins h If being removed, and thetrip-plates alternately moved away from each other the distance of oneperforation, I), at a time, thereby forming another section of the heelportion of the fabric. This hand-adjustment of the pins h h is a verytedious and unsatisfactory process, requiring close attention anddelicate manipulation of the pins to avoid jumping a perforation, andthus forming an irregularity in the fabric, as well as rendering itnecessary to pause at each end of each row of stitches to move thetrip-plates.

To automatically adjust the trip-plates D D upon the segmental plate 0by the motion of the cam-plate B is the object of my invention,whichconsists of two guide-plates, EE formed with yokes F? E, fittingpartially around the hub of the segmental plate 0 and radiating outwardand partially encompassing the trip-plates D D by extending outaroundthe outer end thereof, and thence being bent back near the otheredge of the same, forming a sort of hook, as shown in Fig. 1. At thepoints where these guide-plates E. E pass over the V-shaped grooves dthey are provided with pins m, which project down into the V-shapedgrooves and form guides to the guide-plates, in the same manner as theset-screws t 2' form guides to the trip-plates D D Attached to theguide-plates E E by nuts or collars n n, having internal screwthreads,are adjusting-screws M, by which the relative distances between thehooked ends E E of the guide-plates E E and the trip-plates D D may beadjusted, as hereinafter shown. On the outer ends of the guide-platesare pivoted reversible cam plates E E, the inner edges of which bearagainst springs 15 t. Passing through the pins h h (which are used inthe same manner and in the same position and for the same purpose as thepins heretofore mentioned as being operated by hand to connect thetrip-plates D D with the segmental plate 0) are small rods 'orpins a u,and beneath these pins and between them and the tops of the trip-platesD D are cam bars or levers F F. The upper ends of the pins h h aresupported inbrackets G G", asshown. These levers F F are provided withopen slots, down through which the pins h it pass, and with their uppersurfaces inclining upward and outward at a a, so that if they be pushedinward the inclined surfaces will pass beneath the cross-pins u u andraise up the pins h h and lift them out of the perforations b b anddisconnect them from the segmental plate 0. The levers F F are extendedby arms F F", and each arm provided on its outer end with a smallpivoted lever, F F, each adapted to be turned off at right angles to itsrespective arm, and stopped by pins F F, secured, respectively, to thearms F F, from going beyond a right-angled position in either direction,as hereinafter more fully explained. ThearmsF Fareadjustablelengthwiseon the levers F F by slots and screws, as shown, so that the said leversof which the arms form a part may be lengthened or shortcned. Thebrackets G G will each be attached,respectively,to plates G G", thelatter resting upon the upper surface of the tripplates D D and madeadjustable thereon by slots and set-screws 13 6 as shown more clearly inFig. 3, so that the pins h h may be adjusted to be set in either one ofthe rows of holes b or If. Coiled springs a uare arranged to encirclethe pins h h between the cross-pins u u and brackets G G,to hold thelevers F F down upon the trip-plates and forward in the position inwhich they are represented in Figs. land 3, and also against the side ofstops 1; n on the trip-plates. Attached at some suitable point of thecam-plate B is a pin, H, projecting upward above and in front of thesmall pivoted levers F F. In the drawings this pin H is shown projectingupward from the strap K, which supports the wheeluor guide K whichserves to hold the knit web in place as the needles are thrust out inknitting; but it may be attached at any other suitable point.

When it is desired to move the trip-plates D D toward each other incommencing the knitting of the heel-section, each of the tripplates isset with its pins h or h in the last perforation b in the segmentalplate 0, and with the cam-levers F F turned so as to point away fromeach other, as shown in Fig. 1,

. and with the can1-plates E E also set pointing outward away from eachother, as in Fig. 1, and with the small levers F F turned backward ortoward the operatingpin H, as shown in Fig. 1. The cross-pins u uproject for some distance from either side of the pins h h so that whenthe levers F F are in the position shown in Fig. 1 one end of each ofthe cross'pins will rest against one edge of each of the uprightportions of the hangers or standards G G and the springs u uholding thepins u a downward with considerable force on top of the cam-levers F F,the latter will thereby be held with some force against the stops 1; v,

when the levers are reversed, as well as forced forward, by pressing onthe outward and upward inclinations a a (shown most clearly in Fig. 4,)the inclinations being sufficiently steep to press the said cam-leversendwise. When the cam-levers are located as shown in Fig. l, the pins toa press upon the inclinations close to the lowest point or joining ofthe double inclination shown. As the cam-plate B is revolved, theoperating-pin H, striking the small lever F on the end of the arm Fforces the entire levers F F, with their inclined portions a a, inwardbeneath the cross-pin u, and lifts the pin h from its position in one ofthe perforations b by its inclined upper surface passing beneath thecross-pin a. This releases the trip-plate D on the segmental plate 0,and enables the pressure of pin H on the lever F to move the trip-platearound the distance of one of the perforations b", or until the pin hcomes above the next perforation.

The lower side of the plates E E are provided with springs E E", whichhold it with considerable force down in contact with the segmentalplate, by pressing upward against the lower surface of the said plateand clamping the same between them and the trip-plates towhich they areattached.

The outer ends of each of the guide-plates E E are provided withbackwardly-projecting hooked ends E E, which project inward beyond theouter edges of the trip-plates D D, as shown in Fig. 1. The distancesbetween these hooked portions E E and the trip-plates-D D when the,latter are back in contact with the set-screws M, will be just about thedistance between two of the perforations b b, so that the trip-platesare free to be moved between the hooked ends E E of the guide-plates E Eand the set-screws n n the distance of a pair of the perforations; hencewhen the operating-pin H comes in contact with the pivoted lever E ofthe lever F and moves it inward it raises the pin h, and also moves thetrip-plate D around the segmental plate O until the pin h drops into thenext perforation, this movement at the same time throwing the trip-plateD against the hooked portion E of the guide-plate E.

The two rows of perforations b b in the segmental plate 0 are not of thesame size or the same distance apart, the inner row being larger andfarther apart than the outer row. The inner row of perforations will beused for coarse yarn, and the outer row for fine yarn, larger needlesand fewer being used for coarse knitting than for fine work, and thefewer holes in the inner row corresponding with the fewer coarseneedles, and the hangers G G and pins h h will be adjustable upon theplates D D by the set-screws t" i so that the pins h h may be adapted toeither row of the perforations, and then the distance or throw of thetrip-plate may be regulated by the setscrews n.

The trip-plates D D will fit rather loosely upon the segmental plate 0,so that the pressure of the operating-pin H upon the levers F F" willcause them to slip over the segmental plate just as soon as the pins hor h are clear of the segmental plate, while the springs E E are muchstronger than the springs a a, so that when the trip-plates D D strikethe hooked sections E E they will not move the guideplates E E aroundout of their positions, so that the levers F F when the tripplates D Dstrike the hooked sections E E", will be forced underneath thecross-pins u u" and allow the operating-pin H to pass by the levers;then the springs, pressing down upon the cross-pins u a, will throw thelevers F F outward again to their former positions by pressing down ontheir inclined surfaces 20 a, which are sufficiently steep for thepurpose; then the operating-pin H passes on until it strikes the outerpoint of the cam-lever E or E, upon which it will catch and throw theguide-plate E or E around until the setscrew or? strikes the trip plateD or D The pin h or h having previously dropped into its perforation, asbefore described, will hold the plate D or D fixed to the segmentalplate 0; hence when the setscrew 11, strikes the trip-plate D or D theguide-plate E or E will be stopped, but the operating-pin H will forcethe cam-lever E or E inward, overcome the tension of the spring t, andpass by it. The spring t will be strong enough to hold the cam-leveroutward with sufficient power to overcome the tension of the spring E orE on the guide-plate E or E so that the operating-pin H will move theguide-plate around until its set-screw of strikes the trip-plate D or DThe operating-pin H will then travel around until it strikes the outerpoint of the other lever, F, which it will simply move backward awayfrom contact with the stop c or 22 and not affect anything. Thecam-plate continues to revolve until the pin D strikes the stop-hook D Vor D. Then at the return-stroke the operatingpin H pushes in the lever For F moves the trip-plate D or D the distance of one perforation, thencatches upon the cam-lever E or E", moves the guide-plate E or E arounduntil its set-screw of strikes the trip-plate D or D then depresses thecam-lever against its spring 15, and continues around until it againstrikes the lever F or F and takes up its formerposition again, readyfor another stroke. By this means all that the operator is required todo is to oscillate the crank which moves the cam-plate B when theoperatingpin H, acting upon the levers F F, 820., will raise the pins hh move the trip-plates and guide-plates forward alternately toward eachother until they meet at the center, then, by placing the operating-pinH in a position be tween the levers F F and reversing the levers F F andtheir small right-angled levers F F", and also reversing the cam-leversE E and oscillating the cam-plate B backward and forward as far as thestop-pin D and the stop- ICS hooks D D will allow it to go, the pins h kwill be lifted up from the perforations, and the trip-plates moved awayfrom each other, one perforation at a time, for each stroke of thecam-plate.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claimisl. The combination of the stationary needle-plate B, cam-plate Bprovided with pins D H, means for revolving the cam-plate, stationarysegmental plate 0, provided with the perforations b V, trip-plates D Dpins h if, cam-levers F F and devices, substantially such as described,connected with said pins and intermediate of the same and the levers F Fwhereby when said levers are moved said pins may be lifted upward fromsaid perforations in the segmental plate to release the trip-plates, andthe latter may be moved upon said segmental plate the distance from oneof said perforations to the one next adjacent once during each stroke ofsaid cam-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the stationary needle-plate B, cam-plate 13",provided with pins D H, means for revolving the cam-plate, stationarysegmental plate 0, provided with perforations 1) b trip-plates D D, pinsh h, standards G G springs a u, cross-pins u u, cam-levers F F, providedwith the pivoted levers F F on their outer ends, guide-plates E Eprovided with laterally-extended and inwardly turned portionsencompassing the outer ends of said trip-plates, set-screws n springs EE and cam-levers E E substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV ADOLPH OLSON.

Witnesses:

M. ROBERTSON, LoUIs FEEsER, Jr.

